Antenna reel



W- J. RUBLE Jan. 1o, 1933.

ANTENNA REEL Filed DGO. 9. 1927 IN VEN TOR.

T ORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 10, 1933 PATENT oFFl'c-E WILBUB J'. R'UBLE, 0F WASHINGTGN, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

` ANTENNA anni:

Application filed December 9, 1927. Serial No. 238,927'.

. (GRANTED 'UNDER THE ACT F MARGH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED APRL 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) My invention relates broadly to antenna reels and more particularly to that type of antenna reel which is to beused for the manipulation of a trailer antennaattached to an airplane.

In receiving as well as transmitting radio signals at different wave-lengths, as well as by differently designed apparatus, different lengths of antenna are required for best results, and my invention is designed to most conveniently provide an antenna of variable radio-effective lengths.

When an aircraft is using its radio equipment and is required to make an emergency landing my invention also is designed to quickly take up the distended antenna so that it and its usual end weight may not foul on a land object or any part of the craft or injure ground or craft personnel.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for readily obtaining in and by the same antenna at will variableV radio-eHective lengths of antenna and at the same time and manner quickly taking up and conveniently disposing temporarily of said antenna.

'In its apparatus sense the object of my invention is to produce an antenna reel, cer- -tain metal portions of which are directly conio' nected in series with the. antenna circuit o the radio receiver or transmitter with which it is employed and one in which, although the antenna is not let out to its fullest extent there shall be no dead ends nor high resistance paths through whichl the signals received by the antenna will have to travel and become diminished due to those dead ends or the resistance of those paths, and wherein personnel are protected from live metal parts' of the reel.

Further objects of my invention will appear more fully hereinafter as the description of the method and apparatus is developed.

In the use of the antenna reels as now employed upon airplanes it is customary to attach the antenna to the reel by means of a length of non-conducting or high resistance material so that when the antenna is in use its inner end will be removed some dista-nce from the antenna reel.

. With this method of attachment it is diiicult to make a good electrical connection between the antenna and the radio transmitter.

It may be necessary to partially tune vthe antenna circuit of the transmitter and receiver by varying the length of the trailing antenna. Also it may become necessary when operating at any frequency to reel in a portion of the antenna while flying low over the ground or water to eliminate the possibility of the antenna becoming entangled and torn from the airplane. When with the old method the antenna is in this partially reeled position, high voltages are built up in the dead end with consequent danger to personnel and, further, considerable loss in "the, transmitted or received signals.

My invention consists substantially in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts associated therewith or as will be more fully hereinafter set forth as shown by the accompanying drawing and nally pointed out in the appended claims, in such manner asto provide good electrical Contact between radio set and antenna, a variable length antenna without dead ends or danger to operating personnel.

Reference 1s to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification f in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure l is a sectional view through my improved antenna reel and A Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the 95 same.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 1 represents a mounting board of insulating material in which is embedded a conductive ring 2, to which electrical connection is made to the antenna circuit of the receiver and transmitter.

Positioned upon the mounting board, and disposed centrally with respect to the conductive ring 2 is a spindle 3 and spindle 95 mounting 4. The antenna reel consists of a casting 5 and a plurality of thin metal discs 6 and rotates freely upon the spindle 3 by means of a bearing 7. The casting 5 is provided with an integral extension 8 to which 100 is rotatably mounted a handle 9 for manipulating the reel. sion 8, of strong insulating material, extend radially and are so formed as to prevent personnel from coming in contact with or touching metal discs 6.

Upon the inner side of the antenna reel I have mounted a ring 10 of conductive material of a size similar to that of the conductive ring 2 and of suflicient thickness thatwhen the two rings bear together there is an air or clearance space or gap between the bearing 7 and the spindle mounting 4t. The antenna is directly connected to the metal of the reel and the conductive ring by means of a screw 11.

Upon the outer side of the reel, and fitting over spindle 3, I have provided a bearing 12 with a plurality of vbearing surfaces 13 which rest against the surface of the bearing 7. Upon the outer end of the. spindle 3 I have provided a set of threads 15 upon which is mounted a preferably square or irregularly shaped hand wheel 14, which, as it is moved along the threads of the spindle produces friction between the two conductive rings 1() and 2, and between said surfaces 13 and the juxtaposed face of reel-bearing 7 thereby performing the dual function of braking the reel and forming a clean electrical Contact between rings 10 and 2. A Cotter pin 16 prevents the removal of the hand wheel from the threads of the spindle. The antenna is of the usual bare conductive wire which, when coiled to a greater or lesser extent about and in contact with the conductive metal on the outer surface of reel 5 and in contact with the conductive metal discs 6, as well as by the contact of the coils of the bare antenna wire upon each other, accomplish the variation of the effective length of the antenna substantially according to the extent it may be extended from the reel. When the Aantenna is distended from reel 5 to the desired length it may be held in such position by the adjustment of handwheel 14 to the. extent of locking reel 5 from movement, in which locked position there exists the most efficient electrical contact between said rings 2 and 10.

With thisi'embodiment of my invention I have produced an antenna reel in which the antenna may be partially reeled in and i the signals received upon theantenna pass directly through the shorted turns of the antenna-the metal of the reel, and through a the clean contact effected between the. two

rings 2 and 10 by the friction produced b v the breaking effect of the rings when pressed together by means of the hand wheel 14.

It will be understood that the above. de4 scription and accompanying drawing comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of my invention and that minor detail changes in the construction and arrange- The casting 5 and exteni ment of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims without sacrificingr any of the advantages of my invention.

The invention herein described may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon or therefor.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In an antenna reel, the combination of a mounting board, a ring secured to the mounting board, a spindle mounted upon the mounting boaid, an antenna reel revolvably mounted on said spindle, an independent ring mounted upon the antenna reel adjacent said first mentioned ring, an electrical connection with said first named ring, an antenna connected to said independent ring, and means for producing friction between the rings to effect a retardation of the rotation of the reel.

2. In an antenna reel, the combination of a mounting board, a ring secured to the mountin,L board, a spindle mounted centrally with respect to the ring, a reel upon the spindle, an independent conductive ring upon the reel, an electrical connection with said first named ring, an antenna connected to said independent ring, and means for moving the said reel and independent ring along the spindle to produce frictional engagement of the two rings.

3. In an antenna reel the combination of a mounting board, a conductive ring secured to the mounting board, a spindle mounted centrally with respect tothe ring, a reel upon the spindle, an independent conductive ring upon the reel, means within the reel for mounting the antenna in conductive relation to the said independent ring, and means for frictionally engaging the two rings to produce a braking effect upon the rotation of the reel. l

4. In antenna reel, thetcombination of a mounting board, a conductive ring secured to the mounting board, means for connecting the ring to a radio set, a spindle-mounted centrally with respect to the ring, a reel hav` ing a metal surface upon the spindle, an independent conductive ring upon the reel` an antenna, means for conductively connecting said antenna to the metal of the reel and to the conductive ring, means for producing frictional and electrical engagement of the two rings, and means for varying the friction between the rings.

5. In' an antenna reel, the combination of a mounting board, a spindle mounted upon the mounting board, an antenna reel upon the spindle, a conductive ring mounted on the mounting board, an independent conductive ringA mounted upon the reel, means for producing friction between thel two rings to retard the rotary movement of the reel, terminal electrical connections on each of said rings, and an antenna directly connected to said connection on said independent ring.

6. ln an antenna reel, the combination of a mounting board, a spindle mounted upon said board, an antenna 'reel upon the spindle, a conductive ring mounted on the mounting board, an independent conductive ring mounted upon the reel, electric terminals for each of said rings and means for producingfrictional engagement of said rings, said meansY gaging the hub of the antenna reel through a bearing member.

8. In a radio antenna the combination of a reel having conductive material on its periphcry, a contact ring of conductive material secured on one side of said reel and in contact with said peripherical conductive material, a bearing for said reel, a support for said bearing, a separate contact ring mounted on said support and adapted to receive a connection for conveying impulses to and from the antcnna and to be held in contact with said contact ring, means for applying different dereel varies its effective length measured from said conductive material to the extended end of the antenna, and threaded means on said bearing for holding one side of said reel in rictional engagement only between said lateral faces.

10. In a radio antenna for aircraft the combination of a reel whose body is otnon-conductive material having conductive material on its periphery, a contact ring of conductive material secured to one side of said reel and having a portion in electricalcontactwith said peripherical conductive material and having a lateral face, a bearing for said reel, a support for said bearing, a separate contact ring rigidlymounted on said support and adapt-- ed to receive a connection for conveying impulses to and from the antenna and provided with a lateral face juxtaposed to and adapted to be held in contact with the lateral face of said Contact ring, a nut on said bearing engaging one side of the reel for clamping the lateral faces of said contact rings together for maintaining aneiicient electrical connection therebetween and resisting rotation of said reel, and a bare metal antenna having one end secured to said peripherical conductive material and adapted to be wound upon said reel.

` WILBUR J .'RUBLE.

sired pressures to the contact of said rings to act as a brake or lock for the reel, andfan antenna having one end secured to said peripherical conductive'material and adapted to be wound upon the reel whereby the winding of the antenna more or less upon the reel varies its effective length measured from said peripherical conductive material to the eX- tended end of the antenna.

9. 'ln .a radio antenna for aircraft, the combination of a reel, whose body is of nonconductive material having conductive inaterial on its periphery and provided with a lateral face, a bearing for said reel, a support for said bearing, separate conductive material rigidly mounted on said support and adapted to receive a connection for conveying impulses to and from the antenna and having a lateral -face uxtaposed to and adapted to be held in contact with the lateral face of said peripherical conductive material., a handle secured to and projecting `from one side of the reel at a point removed from the axis of the reel, a bare metal antenna having one end secured to said peripherical conductive material and adapted to be wound upon the reel in conductive Contact with said peripherical conductive material and with the r coiled portion of the antenna, whereby the winding of the antenna more or less upon the 

